Size-weight tester for coins



P. A. JOHNSON 3,356,197

SIZE-WEIGHT TESTER FOR COINS Filed July 19, 1965 48 FIG. I.

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United States Patent 3,356,197 SIZE-WEIGHT TESTER FOR COINS Philip A. Johnson, Olivette, Mo., assignor to National Rejectors, Inc., St. Louis, Mo, a corporation of Missouri Filed July 19, 1965, Ser. No. 472,810 6 Claims. (Cl. 194102) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The coin-receiving cradle of a coin-handling device has a latch pivoted thereto, a stop is normally in the path of that latch, and an authentic coin of the desired denomination can bear against that latch and against one of the coin-receiving surfaces on that coin-receiving cradle to rotate that latch far enough to cause that latch to miss that stop, and thereby enable that coin-receiving cradle to rotate far enough toward an accepted coin chute to transport that authentic coin toward that accepted coin chute.

This invention relates to improvements in moneyhandling devices. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in coin-handling devices.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved coin-handling device.

In many coin-handling devices, coin-receiving cradles are provided to sense the diameters of inserted coins and slugs and thereby separate authentic coins of the desired denomination from undersize coins and slugs. Those cradles intercept authentic coins of the desired denomination and then respond to the weights of those coins to rotate and deliver those coins to runways which guide those coins away from the rejected coin chutes of the coin-handling devices. Undersize coins and slugs are not intercepted by the coin-receiving cradles; and, instead, are permitted to pass downwardly between the coin-receiv ing surfaces of those cradles, and are thus guided away from the accepted chute for authentic coins of the desired denomination. In some instances, because of the particular positioning of the coin-handling devices within the coinreceiving machines with which those devices are used, some persons are able to introduce undersize coins and slugs into the coin-handling devices in such rapid succession and at such angles that some of those coins and slugs engage the lower coin-receiving surfaces of the cradles, rotate those cradles, and then ride the coinreceiving surfaces of those cradles. All such riding of the coin-receiving surfaces of the cradles of coin-handling devices is objectionable, because it can guide undersize coins and slugs away from the rejected coin chutes of those devices, and thereby lead to the acceptance of such coins and slugs.

In recognition of this fact, latches have been mounted adjacent the cradles of coin-testing devices to keep undersize coins and slugs from rotating those cradles and then riding the lower coin-receiving surfaces of those cradles. Those latches have been mounted on pivots, that were'secured to the walls of the passageways adjacent which the cradles were disposed; and portions of those latches extended into the paths of movement of those cradles to block movement of those cradles. When an authentic coin of the desired denomination was inserted in a coin-handling device that had a latch mounted adjacent the cradle thereof, part of the periphery of that coin engaged a coin-receiving surface on that latch while another part of the periphery of that coin engaged a coinreceiving surface on that cradle; and the weight of that coin was great enough to force the cradle-blocking portion of that latch to move out of the path of that cradle.

The weight of that coin also was great enough to hold that cradle-blocking portion out of the path of that cradle, so that cradle could rotate and thereby transfer that coin to an adjacent coin-receiving runway. While such latches are workable, they are not as desirable as they could be; because those latches apply reactive forces to the coins during the rotation of the cradles which tend to resist rotation of the cradles. It would be desirable to provide a latch, for the cradle of a coin-testing device, which could be moved to cradle-releasing position by an authentic coin of the desired denomination, but which would not apply reactive forces to that coin which would tend to resist rotation of that cradle. The present invention provides such a latch; and it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a latch, for the cradle of a coin-testing device, which can be moved to cradlereleasing position by an authentic coin of a desired denomination but which will not apply reactive forces to that coin which would tend to resist rotation of that cradle.

The latch provided by the present invention is mounted on a pivot which is secured to the cradle; and that latch has a coin-receiving surface which is spaced from the lower coin-receiving surface of the cradle by a distance less than the diameter of an authentic coin of the desired denomination. T-hat latch also has a latching surface that normally confronts a stop on one of the walls of the passageway adjacent which the cradle is disposed; but the coin-receiving surface on that latch will respond to an authentic coin of the desired denomination to move far enough to move that latching surface out of register with that stop. As that coin moves the coin-receiving surface on the latch, that latch will apply reactive forces to that coin; but those reactive forces will not tend to resist rotation of that cradle. Instead, those reactive forces will urge that coin toward the lower coin-receiving surface on the cradle, and thereby foster rather than resist rotation of that cradle. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a latch which is pivoted to the cradle of a coin-testing device, which has a latching surface that normally confronts a stop on one of the walls of the passageway adjacent which that cradle is disposed, and which has a coin-receiving surface that is spaced from the lower coin-receiving surface of that cradle by a distance less than the diameter of an authentic coin of the desired denomination and that can respond to an authentic coin of the desired denomination to move far enough to move that latching surface out of register with that stop.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention should become apparent from an examination of the drawing and accompanying description.

In the drawing and accompanying description a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described but it is to be understood that the drawing and accompanying description are for the purpose of illustration only and do not limit the invention and that the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

In the drawing,

FIG. 1 is a broken, front elevational view of one embodiment of coin-testing device that is made in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view through the coin-testing device of FIG. 1, and it is taken along the plane indicated bythe line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is another sectional view through the cointesting device of FIG. 1, it is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2, and it shows how an authentic coin of the desired denomination moves the latch to cradle-releasing position.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view that is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2, and it shows the cradle in coin-releasing position,

FIG. 5 is a further sectional view that is taken along the plane indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 2, it shows an undersize coin passing through the cradle without actuating the latch, and

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the cradle and latch of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the numeral generally denotes a coin-testing device in which the present invention has been incorporated. That coin-testing device has a wall 22; and that wall has bosses 24 and 26 extending forwardly from it. Those bosses are vertically directed, and they coact with that wall to define three sides of the coin entrance for the coin-testing device 20. A shallow recess 28 is formed in the front face of the wall 22; and that recess is arcuate in configuration, as shown by FIG. 1. A further shallow recess 30 is formed in the front face of the wall 22; and that recess is arcuate in configuration, as shown by FIG. 1.

A pivot 32 is secured to the wall 22; and that pivot extends rearwardly from that wall, as shown by FIG. 2. A pendulum 34 has a hub which is telescoped over the pivot 32, and that pendulum is disposed adjacent the rear face of the wall 22. A coin-receiving pin 36 is carried by the lower end of the pendulum 34, and that pin extends forwardly through an arcuate slot 38 in the wall 22. The pendulum 34 normally hangs in a vertical position; and the pin 36 normally is in position to be engaged by authentic coins of the desired denomination, as those coins move downwardly through the coin entrance of the cointesting device 20. That pendulum can respond to an authentic coin of the desired denomination to rotate far enough in the counter clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to permit that coin to move downwardly past the pin 36.

The numeral 40 denotes a further pivot which is secured to the wall 22; and that pivot extends forwardly from that wall. A scavenging lever 42 is rotatbly mounted on the pivot 40; and that scavenging lever has a camming surface 44 thereon. That scavenging lever will be disposed adjacent a linkage, which extends to the exterior of the coin-receiving machine with which the coin-testing device 20 is used, so a patron can apply pressure to that linkage and thereby effect clockwise rotation of that scavenging lever. A wiper blade 43 is secured to and rotates with the scavenging lever 42.

The numeral 46 denotes a scavenging plate which is rotatably secured, at its right-hand edge in FIG. 1, to the wall 22 by a hinge pin, not shown. That scavenging plate has a coin-guiding portion 48 which projects upwardly into position between the bosses 24 and 26 on the wall 22. That coin-guiding portion constitutes the fourth side of the coin entrance for the coin-testing device 20; and the scavenging plate 46 and the wall 22 help define a passageway for coins and slugs moving downwardly through that coin entrance. A pivot 50 is secured to the scavenging plate 46; and that pivot extends forwardly from that scavenging plate, as shown particularly by FIG. 2. A slot 54 is provided in the scavenging plate 46, and the lower portion of that slot is arcuate while the upper portion of that slot is arcuate in part and is polygonal in part. The slot 54 is generally in register with the shallow recess 30 in the front face of the wall 22. A shallow groove 56 is provided in the rear face of the scavenging plate 46, and that groove extends to the upper portion of the slot 54. As shown particularly by FIGS. 3-5, that groove is arcuate; and it is in register with the pin 36 on the pendulum 34. A notch 58 is provided in the scavenging plate 46 immediately adjacent the bottom of the coin-guiding portion 48; and that notch is arcuate in configuration. A small abutment 62 is provided on the rear face of the scavenging plate 46 to the right of the slot 54, as that slot is viewed in FIGS. 3-5; and the leading edge of that abutment is chamfered.

A boss 64 is formed on the front face of the scavenging plate 46; and that boss is disposed below the slot 54, as that slot is viewed in FIG. 1. A groove in that slot accommodates a generally horizontally-directed portion of a washer-catching, wire-like element 66. A counterweight 68 is secured to the lower end of that wire-like element; and that counterweight urges the upper end of that wirelike element through the upper, polygonal portion of the slot 54 into the passageway between the wall 22 and the scavenging plate 46.

The numeral 70 generally denotes a diameter-testing cradle for coins and slugs; and that cradle has a hub which is telescoped over the pivot 50. That cradle has an upper coin-receiving surface 74 and also has a lower coinreceiving surface 72. Those coin-receiving surfaces are spaced far enough apart to permit almost one-half of an authentic coin of desired denomination to pass between them, but they are close enough to each other to keep such a coin from passing all the way between them. In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the coin-receiving surfaces 72 and 74 on the cradle 70 are close enough to each other to enable them to intercept and hold a United States quarter but are spaced far enough apart to enable a nickel to pass freely between them. A weight 78 is secured to a projecting arm of the cradle 70; and that weight biases that cradle for rotation to the normal position shown by FlG.1. A C-washer engages an annular groove in the pivot 50 to prevent accidental separation of the cradle 70 from that pivot.

The numeral '92 denotes a roller which is mounted on vertically-directed pivot on the scavenging plate 46; and that roller is mounted in the path of the camming surface 44 on the scavenging lever 42. As a result, whenever that scavenging lever is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, the camming surface 44 thereon will engage the roller 92 and force the scavenging plate 46 to move forwardly and away from the wall 22. Such movement of that scavenging plate will free any coins or slugs which are held between that scavenging plate and the wall 22.

The numeral 94 denotes a gate which is rotatably secured, at its right-hand edge in FIG. 1, to the wall 22 by the hinge pin, not shown, which secures the right-hand edge of the scavenging plate 46 to that wall. That gate coacts with the wall 22 to define further portions of the passageway between that wall and the scavenging plate 46; and it supports a housing 96 for a permanent magnet, not shown, and it also supports a housing 98 for a permanent magnet, not shown. The permanent magnet within the housing 96 is disposed adjacent a runway 100 which is formed on the scavenging plate 46 and which is in the passageway between that scavenging plate and the wall 22.

The hereinbefore-identified, numbered components of the coin-testing device 20 are of standard and usual construction and are not, per se, parts of the present invention. Those components and other components of that coin-testing device can be modified or varied without affecting the present invention.

The numeral 52 denotes a notch in the edge of the scavenging plate 46; and that notch is close to the pivot 50, as shown particularly by FIG. 6. The numeral 82 denotes a pivot which is carried by the cradle 70; and that pivot rotatably secures a latch 84 to that cradle. A coinreceiving surface 86 is provided on the latch 84, and that coin-receiving surface extends rearwardly from that latch into the passageway between the wall 22 and the scavenging plate 46. As indicated particularly by FIG. 5, the coin-receiving surface 86 is normally disposed below the level of, and generally in vertical alignment with, the coin-receiving surface 74 on the cradle 70. An ear 88 is provided on the latch 84, and that ear extends rearwardly of the cradle 70 and overlies that portion of the upper edge of that cradle which is adjacent the coin-receiving surface 74. That ear serves as a stop, and it can engage that portion of the upper edge of that cradle to prevent unlimited rotation of the latch 84 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1. The major portion of the latch 84 depends downwardly from the pivot 82; and part of the coin-receiving surface 86 on that latch normally lies within the notch 52 in the edge of the scavenging plate 46. As a result, that part of that coin-receiving surface normally acts as a stop to block appreciable clockwise rotation of the cradle 70 in FIG. 1.

When an authentic coin of the desired denomination is introduced into the coin entrance of the coin-testing device 22, the bosses 24 and 26 will guide that coin downwardly toward the cradle 70. If that coin tends to pass to the left of that cradle, as that cradle is viewed in FIGS. 35, that coin will be intercepted by the pin 36 on the pendulum 34 and will be guided toward that cradle. The lower edge of that coin will pass between the coin-receiving surfaces 72 and 74 on that cradle, and the opposite sides of the periphery of that coin will move down toward those coin-receiving surfaces. Before those opposite sides of the periphery of that coin can engage and be intercepted by the coin-receiving surfaces 72 and 74, part of the lower portion of the periphery of that coin will engage the rearwardly-extending, coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84. The weight of an authentic coin of the desired denomination will be great enough to force the latch 84 to rotate in the clockwise direction from the position in FIG. 1 to the position in FIG. 3.

In the position shown by FIG. 1, part of the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84 is disposed within the notch 52 in the edge of the scavenging plate 46, and that part of that coin-receiving surface will prevent appreciable clockwise rotation of the cradle 70 in FIG. 1. However, when an authentic coin of the desired denomination rotates the latch 84 from the position of FIG. 1 to the position of FIG. 3, that part of the coin-receiving surface 86 will move out of the notch 52; and hence the latch 84 will not prevent appreciable clockwise rotation of the cradle 76 in FIG. 1. The weight of the authentic coin of desired denomination will cause the cradle 70 to rotate to the position shown by FIG. 4; and, as that coin rotates that cradle to that position, that coin will tend to roll off of the coin-receiving surface 72 of that cradle and onto the runway 100. That runway will guide that coin away from the rejected coin chute and toward further testing stations in the coin-testing device 20.

If an undersized coin or slug is introduced into the coin entrance of the coin-testing device 20, that coin or slug will pass downwardly between the bosses 24 and 26 and approach the cradle 70. That coin or slug could pass between the coin-receiving surface 72 on that cradle and the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84 without engaging either of those surfaces, it could engage one or the other of those surfaces, or it could engage one of those surfaces and then bound over against the other of those surfaces; but that coin or slug could not simultaneously engage both of those surfaces. If that coin or slug engaged only the coin-receiving surface 72 on the cradle 70, it could not rotate that cradle; because the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84 would be lodged within the notch 52 and would prevent appreciable rotation of that cradle. Consequently, that coin or slug would roll off of the coin-receiving surface 72 and pass downwardly between that coin-receiving surface and the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84 without causing appreciable rotation of that cradle. If an undersize coin or slug engaged only the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84, it could rotate that latch far enough to move that coinreceiving surface out of the notch 52; but it could not rotate the cradle 70 toward the runway 100, because the forces which that coin applied to that coin-receiving surface would bias that cradle for rotation away from, rather than toward, that runway. As a result, that coin or slug would roll off of the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84 and pass downwardly between that coin-receiving surface and the coin-receiving surface 72 on the cradle 70 without causing appreciable rotation of that cradle. If an undersize coin or slug initially engaged the coin-receiving surface 72 on the cradle 70 and then bounded over against the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84, the engagement with the surface 72 could not appreciably rotate that cradle because the latch 84 would prevent such rotation, and the subsequent engagement with the surface 86 could not appreciably rotate that cradle because the forces which that coin or slug would apply to that surface would bias that cradle for rotation away from, rather than toward, the runway 100. If an undersize coin or slug initially engaged the coinreceiving surface 86 on the latch 84, and then bounded over against the coin-receiving surface 72 on the cradle 70, the engagement with the surface 86 could not appreciably rotate that cradle because the forces which that coin or slug would apply to that surface would bias that cradle for rotation away from, rather than toward, the runway 13, and the subsequent engagement with the surface 72 could not appreciably rotate that cradle because the latch 84 would prevent such rotation. The overall result is that an undersize coin or slug could not effect appreciable rotation of the cradle 78.

The pivoting of the latch 84 to the cradle 76 is important for several reasons. First, that pivoting keeps the latch 84 from applying reactive forces, to an authentic coin of the desired denomination, which could resist rotation of the cradle 70 toward the runway 10% In contrast, if the latch 84 were pivoted to the wall 22 or to the scavenging plate 46, that latch could apply such reactive forces to an authentic coin of the desired denomination. Second, that pivoting enables undersize coins or slugs which engage the coin-receiving surface 86 on the latch 84 to bias the cradle 70 for rotation away from, rather than toward, the runway 100. In contrast, if the latch 84 were pivoted to the wall 22 or to the scavenging plate 46, such coins or slugs could not so bias the cradle 70. Third, that pivoting permits the spacing of latch 84 relative to the coin-receiving surface 72 on the cradle 70 to be established and maintained with a high degree of accuracy; because only the manufacturing tolerance of the latch 84, of the cradle 70, and of the pivot 82 could affect that spacing. In contrast, if the latch 84 were pivoted to the wall 22 or to the scavenging plate 46, the manufacturing tolerances of the wall 22 or of the scavenging plate 46 and the manufacturing tolerances of the pivot 50, as well as the manufacturing tolerances of the latch 84, of the cradle 70, and of the pivot 82, could affect that spacing.

Whereas the drawing and accompanying description have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the form of the invention without affecting the scope thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a coin-testing device which has spaced-apart walls to help define a coin-receiving passageway therebetween, a pivot adjacent said passageway that extends transversely of said passageway, and a cradle that is rotatably mounted on said pivot and that has spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces thereon normally extending into said passageway to intercept authentic coins of a desired demonination, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a second pivot mounted on and rotatable with said cradle,

(b) a latch mounted on and rotatable about said second pivot and thus rotatable relative to said cradle,

(c) a stop on one of said walls adjacent said latch,

(d) a surface on said latch that normally is in register with said stop on said one wall and that normally blocks appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(c) said surface on said latch responding to rotation of said latch about said second pivot to move out of register with said stop on said one wall, and thereby permit appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(f) a second surface on said latch that is disposed within said coin-receiving passageway and that can be engaged and moved by authentic coins of said desired denomination within said coin-receiving passageway,

(g) said second surface on said latch normally being spaced from one of said coin-receiving surfaces on said cradle a distance less than the diameter of an authentic coin of said desired denomination,

(h) whereby an authentic coin of said desired denomination within said coin passageway can engage said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle, and can rotate said latch far enough about said second pivot to move the first said surface on said latch out of register with said stop on said one wall, and thereby enable the weight of said coin to rotate said cradle,

(i) the spacing between said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle being greater than the diameter of an undersize coin or slug,

(j) whereby an undersize coin or slug cannot simultaneously engage said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle,

(k) said latch depending downwardly from said second pivot,

(l) the first said and said second surfaces on said latch being on an ear on said latch,

(m) said second pivot and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle being oppositely disposed of the first said pivot,

(n) whereby the weight of an undersize coin which engages said second surface on said latch will apply forces to said second pivot that will resist rotation of said cradle,

(o) the greatest portion of said latch being disposed outwardly of said coin-receiving passageway,

(p) said second surface on said latch being disposed above the level of said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle.

2. In a coin-testing device which has spaced-apart walls to help define a coin-receiving passageway therebetween, a pivot adjacent said passageway, and a cradle that is rotatably mounted on said pivot and that has spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces thereon normally extending into said passageway to intercept authentic coins of a desired denomination, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a second pivot mounted on and rotatable with said cradle,

(b) a latch mounted on and rotatable about said second pivot and thus rotatable relative to said cradle,

(c) a stop adjacent said latch,

(d) a surface on said latch that can engage said stop and thereby block appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(e) said surface on said latch responding to the rotation of said latch about said second pivot to miss said stop, and thereby permit appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(f) a second surface on said latch that is disposed within said coin-receiving passageway and that can be engaged and moved by authentic coins of said desired denomination within said coin-receiving passageway,

(g) said second surface on said latch normally being spaced from one of said coin-receiving surfaces on said cradle a distance less than the diameter of an authentic coin of said desired denomination,

(h) whereby an authentic coin of said desired denomination within said coin passageway can engage said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle, and can rotate said latch far enough about said second pivot to cause the first said surface on said latch to miss said stop, and there- :by enable the weight of said coin to rotate said cradle,

(i) the spacing between said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle being greater than the diameter of an undersize coin or slug,

(j) whereby a undersize coin or slug cannot simultaneously engage said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle,

(k) said second pivot on said cradle and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle being oppositely disposed of the first said pivot,

(1) whereby the weight of an undersize coin which engages said second surface on said latch will apply forces to said second pivot that will resist rotation of said cradle,

(m) the greatest portion of said latch being disposed outwardly of said coin-receiving passageway,

(11) said second surface on said latch being disposed above the level of said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle.

3. In a coin-testing device which has spaced-apart walls to help define a coin-receiving passageway therebetween, a pivot adjacent said passageway, and a cradle that is r0 tatably mounted on said pivot and that has spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces thereon normally extending into said passageway to intercept authentic coins of a desired denomination, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a second pivot mounted on and rotatable with said cradle,

(b) a latch mounted on and rotatable about said second pivot and thus rotatable relative to said cradle,

(c) a stop adjacent said latch,

(d) a surface on said latch that can engage said stop and thereby block appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(e) said surface on said latch responding to rotation of said latch about said second pivot to miss said stop, and thereby permit appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(f) a second surface on said latch that is disposed within said coin-receiving passageway and that can be engaged and moved by authentic coins of said desired denomination within said coin-receiving passageway,

(g) said second surface on said latch normally being spaced from one of said coin-receiving surfaces on said cradle a distance less than the diameter of an authentic coin of said desired denomination,

(h) whereby an authentic coin of said desired denomi' nation within said coin passageway can engage said second surface on said latch and said one coin receiving surface on said cradle, and can rotate said latch far enough about said second pivot to cause the first said surface on said latch to miss said stop, and thereby enable the weight of said coin to rotate said cradle,

(i) the spacing between said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle being greater than the diameter of an under size coin or slug,

(j) whereby an undersize coin or slug cannot simul* taneously engage said second surface on said latch and said one coin-receiving surface on said cradle,

(k) said second pivot on said cradle and said one coin receiving surface on said cradle being oppositely disposed of the first said pivot,

(1) whereby the weight of an undersize coin which en gages said second surface on said latch will apply forces to said second pivot that will resist rotation of said cradle.

4. In a coin-testing device which has spaced-apart walls to help define a coin-receiving passageway therebetween, a pivot adjacent said passageway, and a cradle that is rotatably mounted on said pivot and that has spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces thereon normally extending into said passageway to intercept authentic coins of a desired denomination, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a second pivot mounted on and rotatable with said cradle,

(b) a latch mounted on and rotatable about said second pivot and thus rotatable relative to said cradle,

(c) a stop adjacent said latch,

(d) a surface on said latch that can engage said stop and thereby block appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(e) said surface on said latch responding to rotation of said latch about said second pivot to miss said stop, and thereby permit appreciable rotation of said cradle,

(f) a second surface on said latch that is disposed within said coin-receiving passageway and that can be engaged and moved by authentic coins of said desired denomination within said coin-receiving passageway,

(g) said second surface on said latch responding to an authentic coin of said desired denomination within said coin passageway to rotate said latch far enough about said second pivot to cause the first said surface on said latch to miss said stop, and thereby enable the weight of said coin to rotate said cradle,

(h) said second pivot on said cradle and one of said coin-receiving surfaces on said cradle being oppositely disposed of the first said pivot,

(i) whereby the weight of an undersize coin which engages said second surface on said latch will apply forces to said second pivot that will resist rotation of said cradle.

5. In a coin-testing device which has spaced-apart walls to help define a coin-receiving passageway therebetween, a pivot adjacent said passageway, and a cradle that is rotatably mounted on said pivot and that has spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces thereon which are oppositely disposed of said pivot and which normally extend into said passageway to intercept authentic coins of a desired denomination and to transport said authentic coins of said desired denomination toward an accepted coin chute, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a second pivot mounted on and rotatable with said cradle,

(b) a latch mounted on and rotatable about said second pivot and thus rotatable with said cradle and also rotatable relative to said cradle,

(c) a stop adjacent said latch,

(d) a surface on said latch that can engage said stop and thereby block appreciable rotation of said cradle toward said accepted coin chute,

(e) said surface on said latch responding to rotation of said latc-h about said second pivot to miss said stop, and thereby permit appreciable rotation of said cradle toward said accepted coin chute to transport said authentic coin of said desired denomination toward said accepted coin chute,

(f) a second surface on said latch that is disposed within said coin-receiving passageway and that can be engaged and moved by authentic coins of said desired denomination within said coin-receiving passageway,

(g) said second surface on said latch being positioned so an authentic coin of the desired denomination must engage said second surface before it can engage both of said spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces on said cradle,

(h) said second surface on said latch responding to an authentic coin of said desired denomination within said coin passageway to rotate said latch far enough about said second pivot to cause the first said surface on said latch to miss said stop and responding to said authentic coin of said desired denomination to hold said latch in its rotated position, whereby the weight of said authentic coin of said desired denomination will be able to rotate said cradle toward said accepted coin chute and thereby transport said authentic coin of said desired denomination toward said accepted coin chute.

6. In a coin-testing device which has spaced-apart walls to help define a coin-receiving passageway there between, a pivot adjacent said passageway, and a cradle that is rotatably mounted on said pivot and that has spaced-apart coin-receiving surfaces thereon which are oppositely disposed of said pivot and which normally extend into said passageway to intercept authentic coins of a desired denomination and to transport said authentic coins of said desired denomination toward an accepted coin chute, the improvement which comprises:

(a) a second pivot mounted on and rotatable with said cradle,

(b) a latch mounted on and rotatable about said second pivot and thus rotatable with said cradle and also rotatable relative to said cradle,

(c) a stop adjacent said latch,

(d) a surface on said latch that can engage said stop and thereby block appreciable rotation of said cradle toward said accepted coin chute.

(e) said surface on said latch responding to rotation of said latch about said second pivot to miss said stop, and thereby permit appreciable rotation of said cradle toward said accepted coin chute to transport said authentic coins of said desired deonmination toward said accepted coin chute,

(f) a second surface on said latch that is disposed within said coin-receiving passageway and that can be engaged and moved by authentic, coins of said desired denomination within said coin-receiving passageway,

(g) said second surface on said latch being positioned between said coin-receiving surfaces on said cradle and being adjacent one of said coin-receiving surfaces,

(h) said second surface on said latch responding to an authentic coin of said desired denomination within said coin passageway to rotate said latch far enough about said second pivot to cause the first said surface on said latch to miss said stop and said second surface of said latch thereafter responding to said authentic coin of said desired denomination to hold said latch in its rotated position, whereby the weight of said authentic coin of said desired denomination will be able to rotate said cradle toward said accepted coin chute and thereby transport said authentic coin of said desired denomination toward said accepted coin chute.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,258,765 3/1918 Grover 19448 2,997,151 8/ 1961 Chandler l945 1 3,145,821 8/1964 Simpson 194-102 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A COIN-TESTING DEVICE WHICH HAS SPACED-APART WALLS TO HELP DEFINE A COIN-RECEIVING PASSAGEWAY THEREBETWEEN A PIVOT ADJACENT SAID PASSAGEWAY THAT EXTENDS TRANSVERSELY OF SAID PASSAGEWAY, AND A CRADLE THAT IS ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT AND THAT HAS SPACED-APART COIN-RECEIVING SURFACES THEREON NORMALLY EXTENDING INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY TO INTERCEPT AUTHENTIC COINS OF A DESIRED DEMONINATION, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES: (A) A SECOND PIVOT MOUNTED ON AND ROTATABLE WITH SAID CRADDLE, (B) A LATCH MOUNTED ON AND ROTATABLE ABOUT SAID SECOND PIVOT AND THUS ROTATABLE RELATIVE TO SAID CRADDLE, (C) A STOP ON ONE OF SAID WALLS ADJACENT SAID LATCH, (D) A SURFACE ON SAID LATCH THAT NORMALLY IS IN REGISTER WITH SAID STOP ON SAID ONE WALL AND THAT NORMALLY BLOCKS APPRECIABLE ROTATION OF SAID CRADDLE, (E) SAID SURFACE ON SAID LATCH RESPONDING TO ROTATION OF SAID LATCH ABOUT SAID SECOND PIVOT TO MOVE OUT OF REGISTER WITH SAID STOP ON SAID ONE WALL, AND THEREBY PERMIT APPRECIABLE ROTATION OF SAID CRADDLE, (F) A SECOND SURFACE ON SAID LATCH THAT IS DISPOSED WITHIN SAID COIN-RECEIVING PASSAGEWAY AND THAT CAN BE ENGAGED AND MOVED BY AUTHENTIC COINS OF SAID DESIRED DENOMINATION WITHIN SAID COIN-RECEIVING PASSAGEWAY, (G) SAID SECOND SURFACE ON SAID LATCH NORMALLY BEING SPACED FROM ONE OF SAID COIN-RECEIVING SURFACES ON SAID CRADDLE A DISTANCE LESS THAN THE DIAMETER OF AN AUTHENTIC COIN OF SAID DESIRED DENOMINATION, (H) WHEREBY AN AUTHENTIC COIN OF SAID DESIRED DENOMINATION WITHIN SAID COIN PASSAGEWAY CAN ENGAGE SAID SECOND SURFADE ON SAID LATCH AND SAID ONE COIN-RECEIVING SURFACE ON SAID CRADDLE, AND CAN ROTATE SAID LATCH FAR ENOUGH ABOUT SAID SECOND PIVOT TO MOVE THE FIRST SAID SURFACE ON SAID LATCH OUT OF REGISTER WITH SAID STOP ON SAID ONE WALL, AND THEREBY ENABLE THE WEIGHT OF SAID COIN TO ROTATE SAID CRADLE, 